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Shakespeare’s classic battle of the sexes is brought to life by the Young Auckland Shakespeare Company in an “original practices” inspired production with a modern twist. Traditionally written for males to play the female roles, YASC honours Shakespeare’s original intention but redresses the gender balance by casting females to play all the male parts. Featuring a cast of 22 young actors aged 14-25, Much Adoe About Nothing transfers to the PopUp Globe in full Elizabethan glory for two performances only following a run at the re-imagined Indoor Playhouse at The Auckland Performing Arts Centre (TAPAC). Don’t miss this rare opportunity to see Shakespeare performed by Auckland’s up and coming young theatrical talents.

The Young Auckland Shakespeare Company (YASC) was established in 2012 and named one of the “Six of the Best Kids’ Theatre Groups” by the NZ Herald in 2014. Offering classes for teens, workshops for teachers and annual productions, YASC is led by acting tutors who have had specialist training and experience in the performance and practical teaching of Shakespeare’s work. Much Adoe About Nothing is the fourth annual summer production for YASC.

“Shakespeare enriches us all and is one of the foremost expressions of the human spirit. It is important that young people understand this through performance so that their lives, and ours, can be the better for it.” – Patron Michael Hurst.

Young Auckland Shakespeare Company founder and director of Much Adoe About Nothing, Rita Stone, trained at the UNITEC School of Performing and Screen Arts and holds a postgraduate diploma in teaching. She founded the Legacy Shakespeare Company in 2000, producing annual summer shows in the Parnell Rose Gardens. Rita travelled to London in 2004 and took a course at Shakespeare’s Globe London, returning again in 2011 with the Shakespeare Globe Centre New Zealand (SGCNZ)’s ‘Teachers Go Global’ scheme.